We are very happy to start this column “Helping
Hands”. Mrs. Vidya Sapre has come up to
take the lead on this initiative as she is already involved in and working with
a few charity organizations to help needy people. We will be sharing stories
and information about helping other people, organizations and people in person working on helping
the needy, mostly to begin with Marathi people who are making a difference
helping others. Read more for details and our first unfinished task....

Legendsमराठी माणुस

Born: 11 April, 1827 Passed Away: 28 November, 1890ContributionsJyotiba Phule was one of the prominent social reformers of the nineteenth century India. He led the movement against the prevailing caste-restrictions in India. He revolted against the domination of the

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, commonly known as Swatantryaveer Savarkar was a fearless freedom fighter, social reformer, writer, dramatist, poet, historian, political leader and philosopher.

Savarkar's revolutionary activities began while studying in India and England, where he was associated with the India House and founded student societies including Abhinav Bharat Society and the Free India Society, as well as publications espousing the cause of complete Indian independence by revolutionary means

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar,
popularly known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and
social reformer who inspired the Modern Buddhist Movement and campaigned
against social discrimination against Dalits, women and labour.

As the free India's first
Law Minister and Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, Dr. Ambedkar
drafted the nation's constitution.

Jijabai was born on 12 January 1598 and a daughter of Lakhojirao Jadhav in present-day Buldhana district of Maharashtra State. As per the customs of that age, she got married at an early age to Shahaji Bhosale, a nobleman and

I would like to share a
brief history of Ahilya Bai Holkar. I grew up in Indore and always respected
her work as a queen and an administrator.

The reign of
Ahilyabai, of Indore in central India, lasted for 30 Yrs. , Ahilyabai
petitioned the Peshwa after Malhar’s death, and the death of her son, to take
over the administration herself. Some in Malwa objected to herassumption of
rule, but the army of Holkar was enthusiastic about her leadership. She had led
them in person, with four bows and quivers of arrows fitted to the corners of
the howdah of her favourite elephant. The Peshwa granted permission, and, with
Tukoji Holkar (not a relative) as the head of military matters, she proceeded
to rule Malwa in a most enlightened manner, even reinstating a Brahmin who had
opposed her.

This has become almost legendary as a period
during which perfect order and good Government prevailed and the people
prospered. She was a very able ruler and organizer, highly respected during her
lifetime, and considered as a saint by a lot of people after her death.As a
tribute to the great ruler, Indore domestic airport has been named Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport. Similarly, Indore University has been renamed
as "Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya".

Historians of the 19th and
20th centuries—Indian, English and American—agree that the reputation of
Ahilyabai Holkar in Malwa and Maharashtra was then, and is, even now, that of a
saint. Nothing has ever been discovered by any researcher to discredit that.
She was truly a magnificent woman, an able ruler and a great queen.--Aishwarya Kokatay

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Exclusive एक्स्क्लूसिव

An Interview with Wonder woman Anima-Patil Sable, California

Anima Patil-Sabale is a Scientist-Astronaut Candidate (Commercial Space
Projects) and a Software and Aerospace Engineer. Anima is a wonder woman who
works for NASA and is a pilot, scuba-diver, NASA Speaker, NASA Girls
Mentor, Boy Scout’s Assistant Scout Master, STEM advocate, NASA Astronaut
Aspirant, Artist, Singer, Dancer, Performer, all this and more! What a
personality, Anima sure is an inspiration to Marathi ladies (or anyone really)
out there who want to think out of the box and peruse their dreams.

Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur (26th June 1874 to 6th May
1922)

The first Maharaja of
the Indian princely state of Kolhapur between 1884 and 1922. The most popular Maratha King with a
revolutionary vision. He was a social reformer to work for rural and low-caste
indigent by providing them free education along with hostel facility in
Kolhapur state.

(सुरेश भट; April 15, 1932 – March 14, 2003) was a noted Marathi poet
from the state of Maharashtra, India. He was known as Ghazal Samrat
for his exposition of the ghazal form of poetry and its adaptation to
the Marathi language.

Picture Source: http://www.sureshbhat.in/

Bhat
published his first collection of poems, Roopgandha in 1961. In 1974,
he published his second collection, Ranga maazhaa wegalaa and in 1983
he self-published a collection named Elgaar. Other collections of his
poems include Zanjhaavaat and Saptaranga

Roopgandha and Ranga
maazhaa wegalaa were the recipients of the state literary awards sponsored
by the Government of Maharashtra in their respective years of
publication. Ranga maazhaa wegalaa was later taught in three
universities in Maharashtra for the Master of Arts course in Marathi.

Bhat's
best-known verses gained popularity after they were set to music by Hridaynath
Mangeshkar, and were sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. To name a few are: Tarun ahe ratra ajuni , तरुण आहे रात्र अजुनी sunya sunya maifilit mazya सुन्या सुन्या मैफिलीत माझ्या

Bhat's poem
'Maayboli' was composed by music director Kaushal Inamdar as the Marathi
Abhimaangeet as a mega song featuring more than 450 singers.

List of
poetry collections

Roopgandha (रूपगंधा)

Ranga
maazhaa vegalaa [ रंग माझा वेगळा]

Elgaar [एल्गार]

Zanjhaavaat [झंझावात]

Saptaranga [सप्‍तरंग]

Rasvanticha
Mujara [सप्‍तरंग]

C. Ramchandra

Ramchandra Narhar Chitalkar was a renowned music composer in the movie industry of India. In the composer's role, he mostly used the name C. Ramachandra, though he also used the names Annasaheb, Ram Chitalkar, and Shyamoo.

Born: January 12, 1918, Puntamba

Died: January 5, 1982, Mumbai, India

Read an informative article on his work as we celebrate his birth month by: Jayant Kulkarni, New jersey

Bal Gangadhar Tilak born as
Keshav Gangadhar Tilak (23 July 1856 – 1 August 1920), was an Indian
nationalist, journalist, teacher, social reformer, lawyer and an independence
activist who was the first popular leader of the Indian Independence Movement.
The British colonial authorities called him "Father of the Indian
unrest". He was also conferred with the honorary title of
"Lokmanya", which literally means "Accepted by the people.

Tilak was one of the first and strongest advocates
of "Swaraj" स्वराज (self-rule) and a strong radical in Indian consciousness. His
famous quote, "Swaraj स्वराज is my birthright, and I shall have it!" is well-remembered
in India even today.

He
introduced sarvajanik Ganeshotsav सार्वजनिक गणेशोत्सव in Maharashtra State to bring
community together and to stimulate social interaction.

was
a highly dedicated Indiansocial workerfor the cause of rehabilitation and empowerment of poor
people, particularly those suffering from leprosy. He gave up all his luxurious way of living. He gave up his
wealth and established three ashramsfor treatment and rehabilitation of leprosy patients,
disabled people, and people from marginalized sections of the society in
Maharashtra, India, of which Anandwanwas the precursor. He also adopted non-violent meansto fight the Indian government for independence. He
was the recipient of many international and national awards of which the most
prominent are: The Ramon Magsaysay Award; the Padma Vibhushan, the highest
civilian honour of the Government of India; and the Gandhi Peace
Prize. Visit ANANDVAN

Balshastri Jambhekar is also known as Father of Marathi journalism for his efforts in starting journalism in Marathi language with the first newspaper in the language named 'Darpan' in the early days of British Rule in India. Born: January 6, 1812, Konkan, India Died: May 18, 1846Read more

Gajanan Digambar Madgulkar (October 1, 1919–December 14, 1977) was an Indian poet, lyricist, play-writer, actor and orator. Ga Di Ma, as he was popularly known, was the leading name in Marathi literature and one of the great modern poets of Maharashtra.

Ga Di Ma successfully tried his hands in many stream of literature, including poetry, stories, epics, novels, autobiographies and lyrics. He has almost 30 acclaimed works across these categories. The subjects covered by him in his creations are just as varied.

Ga Di Ma was equally proficient in Hindi. He first entered the world of films in March 1938 at Kolhapur. His pen contributed to as many as 157 Marathi and 23 Hindi films. It was Ga Di Ma who penned the story and dialogue for V. Shantaram's film Do Ankhen Barah Haath, which won recognition at international film festivals.

He is especially admired for having written Geet Ramayan, a collection of 56 verses encompassing the entire epic of Ramayana. It earned him the title of "Modern Valmiki". The music was composed by Sudhir Phadke

Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, (धुंडीराज गोविंद फाळके) popularly
known as Dadasaheb Phalke ( दादासाहेब फाळके) (30
April 1870 – 16 February 1944) was an Indian producer-director-screenwriter,
known as the father of Indian cinema. ‘Father of Indian Cinema, whose
pioneering efforts laid the foundation of Indian cinema. Despite heavy odds and
scathing criticisms, Phalke went ahead with his endeavors and made people
realize the cultural and financial worth of the film medium. As more and more
entrepreneurs took to film-making, films became an integral part of mainstream
entertainment.

Vijay Tendulkar विजय तेंडुलकर (6 January 1928 – 19 May 2008) was a leading Indian playwright, movie and television writer, literary essayist, political journalist, and social commentator primarily in Marāthi. He is best known for his plays Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe (1967), Ghasiram Kotwal (1972), and Sakharam Binder (1972).

Pandurang Sadashiv Sane, known as Sane Guruji(24/12/1899 to 11/06/1950) to his followers, was a famous Marathi author and social activist. He was born in a town palghat in Ratnagiri district konkan region of rural Maharashtra. He also had a younger brother.

There were two screenings held in LA with tremendous response. A salute to the great work done by Dr. prakash Amte and making an excellent movie on his life and work by Director Producer Samruddhi Porey"Read this movie review by Priti Barve Los Angeles,